AN: This was a rough chapter to write. Especially given how much I want to keep everyone in character. The positive comments that I got about Demyx energized me, and so this chapter was finished! Oh, I thought I'd use the beginning of this chapter to talk about Zexy's family... As you can see, they're all alive. His siblings are NOT OCs. Thought you should know that beforehand. Enjoy. ^^ Thanks to Niffstral, Luckless-is-me and LiteraryMirage for reviewing! And thanks again to Niffstral for betaing. Oh, my split infinitives...

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Chapter 4: Hope and Cloudbursts

My family is a family of five, consisting of mother, father, older half-brother, younger sister and myself. They're all very good people. My parents are cheerful and understanding, and can see the good in everyone. My half-brother is the quiet type, preferring not to speak unless it is imperative. He takes the logical approach to solving problems, and in that regard, I believe that the two of us are quite similar. His colossal strength caused him to be recruited by the army, and as our parents could not afford to send him to college, he joined the army in order to get his education. I still receive occasional letters from him, though there isn't much to learn from them.

If not for my younger sister, I believe that my brother and I would talk even less. She takes after our parents in her goodness and cheerfulness, though their affectionate natures lose out to hers. Her existence is like a tiny ray of hope. She must be 14 now…

I wish I could see them…

"…What did you say?" Zexion wasn't certain that he'd heard Demyx correctly. Surely, he hadn't just asked if he could continue knocking holes in his personal bubble?

"Um… That is…" Demyx's face flushed with embarrassment, and Zexion wondered what he'd gotten himself into. "This is going to sound creepy, but I've actually been watching you for a while now, and um… I think you're really special, and I really… like you."

Oh fuck. Now everything makes sense. Dammit Axel. Dammit Roxas. "Have you been following me?" Zexion's voice cracked slightly on the last two words, fear of discovery slipping out into the open.

Demyx's face fell. "What? No. I just notice when you're nearby."

"Did you know who Roxas was "introducing" you to, that day?"

"No, I didn't. I was happy when I found out, though," Demyx admitted.

"What…" Zexion paused, formulating his question carefully. "What is it exactly that you want from me?"

"That's easy! I want you to fall in love with me!" Demyx proclaimed confidently, shocking Zexion with his lack of delicacy. Demyx colored suddenly, overcome with the realization of what he'd just said. "Um, I… I m-m-mean… th-that is…"

"You really are an idiot," Zexion observed, for the third or fourth time that day.

"Um, th-that… Wait, what?"

"Well, what am I supposed to say to something like that?"

"Nothing, I guess," Demyx admitted. "Unless it's already happened. But I don't think it has, so…"

"Then why say such a thing?"

"Hey, you asked! I was just answering the question."

Zexion chuckled softly at Demyx's indignation. "That's true," he admitted. "As of right now, I can't respond positively, but I won't say that there isn't a chance."

Demyx really did light up like a firework this time. "Really?"

"Well, there's certainly no competition."

"Oh, thanks. That's sooooo reassuring."

"That, and when Axel initially asked me if I wanted to meet you, he was proposing to set me up with someone," Zexion admitted. "Who later turned out to be you."

"He said that? Really?" If Demyx got any happier, he would probably explode, Zexion reasoned. As it was, Demyx was almost radiating light.

"Yes…"

"But you don't seem like the kind of person to agree to something like that."

"Well…" Zexion hesitated. "When you live with a happy couple…"

"I get it," Demyx replied, nodding.

"I thought I should try, at least, even if it's impossible for me to be as happy as the two of them."

"So," Demyx began, eyes shining with hope. "Does that mean I can see you again?"

"I believe you already asked me that question today."

"Yeah, but that was before my confession. You might have changed your mind."

"I have not changed my mind. We may continue to meet," Zexion assured him.

"Yippee!" After delivering a flying tackle hug to express his joy, Demyx sped off toward the music school, having suddenly remembered his original reason for coming to school on a Sunday.

Zexion chuckled softly, watching Demyx's retreating form. "What have I gotten myself into?"

"You look awfully cheerful, Zex." Axel observed from his seat at the kitchen table.

"And it looks like I was right about you. You came scurrying back once I went to talk to Demyx, didn't you?" Zexion had hurried home after meeting Demyx, in the hope of catching Axel in the act, but Axel had thwarted him.

"Hit the nail on the head," Axel agreed cheerfully. "You didn't make me wait that long, though. Aren't you normally more stubborn?"

"I was attacked on all sides," Zexion explained indifferently. "It wasn't worth the trouble."

"Oh, is that all?"

"And…" Zexion hesitated. "He's mostly harmless. I can see that now."

"What changed your mind?"

"If I'm correctly interpreting what he said, I have reason to believe that Demyx is in love with me," Zexion related calmly.

"Wow, Zex. I didn't know you were such a lady-killer," Axel joked.

"Ha ha. Very funny."

"Wait." Axel dropped his playful manner. "You were serious?"

"I am possibly the most serious person you know," Zexion countered. "He knew of me prior to our first meeting, apparently. He must have seen something that he liked. I take it you were not aware?"

Axel shook his head. "Roxas is the one who really knows Demyx, and he never mentioned anything like that."

"Since Demyx mimics other people to figure out how to act, it seemed like he'd have some trouble with love," Roxas explained, shouting from the living room, where was watching the news. "But I guess he doesn't."

"So, Zex, what do you think of your set up?" Axel asked playfully.

"He is very amiable," Zexion admitted.

"'Amiable'? Zex, I thought you were starting to drop the formal speech…" Axel confessed, with an air of disappointment.

"I was teasing you. Demyx is very unpredictable, but I can't help but wonder at his persistence. I have been quite unkind to him, on several occasions," Zexion reflected bitterly.

"If he wasn't, you could hardly call his feelings love," Roxas offered from the living room.

"True. I suppose I like him well enough."

"…You're talking formally to avoid the question, aren't you?" Axel's displeasure was evident.

"That is correct. Please probe no further." Because I don't know how to answer.

"Fine, fine. Hey Rox, what's in the news?"

"Ienzo took out the power in Traverse Town," Roxas answered dispassionately.

"What, seriously?" Axel was out of the kitchen and into the living room in a flash, sparing only an instant to shoot a disapproving glance at Zexion, who followed at a slower pace.

"How do they know that Ienzo is responsible for the power outage?" Zexion asked. "They normally can't name a culprit immediately."

"Some of the lights didn't go out, and they spelled out "Ienzo."" Roxas explained. Axel turned to Zexion, giving him a meaningful look. Zexion shook his head slightly. His virus should only have affected the power in the government buildings, not the entire city… And why spell his name out for the world to see? Such vanity.

"Unless he's an idiot, this attack isn't one of Ienzo's," Zexion murmured, attempting to look thoughtful.

"Why do you say that?" Roxas asked, turning away from the television.

"In all of his previous attacks, he hasn't declared his name in such a grand way. It seems more like one of those groups that like to claim responsibility for him, using his name to further their cause. Or, rather, to place the blame of such a large-scale event on him."

"Why would someone do something like that?"

Zexion shook his head. "I don't know. And I don't suppose it concerns us, either. Terrorists may have their power struggles as they please."

"I guess you're right," Roxas agreed, though somewhat reluctantly.

"Are you telling me the truth? You really didn't do that to Traverse Town?" Axel's tone was calm, but Zexion didn't trust it. If he answered wrongly, he would undoubtedly have to find another place to live.

"I did not do that to Traverse Town. My virus would only have cut the power to the government buildings there," Zexion affirmed quietly, not wanting Roxas to overhear. Zexion's bedroom did not have the thickest walls.

"Could you have done something wrong?"

"And have the result look like that? No. Either someone managed to intercept and modify my virus, or they worked around it," Zexion reasoned, feigning unconcern. In actuality, his mind was full of activity, trying to determine who was responsible, and how exactly they'd gone about it.

"If someone was able to intercept it, does that mean they could find where it came from?"

"Possibly. But that is why I do not work near campus or the apartment. I do not want to put you and Roxas in danger."

"Zexion…" Axel began, his voice full of concern. "Why would someone do something like this?"

"I cannot say for certain, but I suspect that they want me to learn something from the experience."

"Learn what? How to protect your viruses?" Axel attempted a joke. Zexion, however, was not in a mood where he could recognize sarcasm.

"I cannot say, though I doubt it's something so technical." Perhaps, to learn what it's like to be hated. People are not likely to keep quiet about this. It was Ienzo's most daring move yet. Zexion had a feeling that he knew exactly who was responsible. Not that he could tell Axel…

"Zex…"

"Sorry Axel, but I can't-" Zexion stopped as his phone started vibrating in his pocket. A smile slowly overtook his features as he read the text message that Demyx had sent. "Axel, can we talk later?"

"I guess… This isn't going to just go away, though." Zexion didn't like that glint in Axel's eyes.

"Thank you." Zexion smiled slightly, and Axel left the room, leaving Zexion to formulate a reasonably disaffected reply.

"It has been three days since Traverse Town lost power, and officials indicate that they are close to restoring the city's power. Based on the available evidence, the RGBI has conclusively attributed the power loss to an attack from the wanted cyber terrorist Ienzo. The malfunctioning traffic lights in Twilight Town are also believed to be the work of Ienzo. As the citizens of Traverse Town and Twilight Town flee or seek refuge in their homes, the residents of nearby cities and towns are calling for immediate action against Ienzo. As one resident of Hollow Bastion put it, "Ienzo has run free for too long." This is Yu-" Zexion turned off the T.V. and lay back onto his bed, trying to remain conscious. He should have called by now… If only to gloat.

"Speak of the devil," Zexion murmured, retrieving his suddenly vibrating phone. "And he shall appear. I'm surprised you took so long."

"I do work occasionally. Especially after what you did to Traverse Town."

"That wasn't me," Zexion hissed.

"I'm sure that someone will believe you. Not the world at large, though. To them, Ienzo has finally gone over the edge. They tolerated your childishness before, but their patience is wearing thin."

"So you decided to wear it out faster, to get me under your heel faster," Zexion spat angrily.

"Your next target was Traverse Town."

"But normal people wouldn't have been affected! This is going too far. It impacts the other towns too!"

"Ienzo… You wanted to rebel. You wanted to show that you couldn't be controlled. Now, it is not just I who wants you under control. If your identity were ever to be revealed, you would be in my care in an instant. Don't waste the time that you have been given this way."

"Then, what do you want me to do?"

The voice chuckled, sending a chill up Zexion's spine. "I thought you were starting to talk more like a teenage boy, and less like a book. Is that because of that music student who thinks he's in love with you?"

Zexion broke out in a cold sweat. How dare he… "Do not bring him into this."

"But why not? You changed your opinion of him rather quickly, didn't you? I didn't think you were capable of changing your mind about others."

"He's a good person. He's just a little confused. I didn't understand that right away." Zexion didn't like where this was going. Why talk about Demyx again?

"Be careful with him, Ienzo," the voice warned. "Your time is quickly running out. Better to leave without regrets."

"That is what I intend to do."

"Excellent. You're better off severing all needless connections beforehand. They will only get in the way later." The line went dead.

"It would appear," Zexion murmured. "That our views on that subject are utterly irreconcilable."

"Zexy, have you been sleeping lately?" Demyx asked, concern etched all over his face. "If you wanna go back home and sleep, we can have lunch another time…"

"I normally sleep as little as possible. I believe that lately I actually have been sleeping more," Zexion explained indifferently, taking a sip of his generic cola drink.

"Why don't you sleep?"

"…Promise that you won't laugh."

"Okay," Demyx agreed.

"I have had very strange dreams ever since I was very young," Zexion explained, his face betraying no emotion. "Flashes of light, raw emotions… They don't follow a pattern or a story. Or, they don't appear to, anyway. I prefer to spend as little time as possible trapped by these dreams." Zexion's expression softened slightly. "But lately, I must be having normal dreams, the type that you don't remember having when you wake, so sleeping has been easier."

"That's not something I can laugh about," Demyx murmured. "Dreams are powerful."

"Demyx…" Zexion began, hesitating. "Have you ever dreamt that you were dying?"

"Huh? Yeah… Once. When I was 9, or something." Zexion chuckled softly, causing Demyx's face to turn bright red. "Hey! I agreed not to laugh at you! Why do you get to laugh at me?"

"I apologize," Zexion replied, smilingly slightly. "I was not laughing at you. Merely at my childishness."

"Huh?"

"Most would consider dreams of death to be unpleasant, even traumatic. For that reason I should not have asked. Yet, in my case, it was the best dream I've ever had, because it made sense. That I could find anything pleasant about such a dream… I can only laugh."

"You're a logical person, Zexy," Demyx began quietly. "Death is logical too."

"Perhaps you're not an idiot after all," Zexion admitted.

"Or maybe you're not as smart as everyone thinks," Demyx taunted cheerily.

"That would be nice," Zexion observed. "I should like to fool them somehow."

Demyx smiled, and they lapsed into a comfortable silence, during which their food arrived. Wanting to know something before food made him unintelligible or forgetful, Demyx broke the silence hurriedly. "Zexy, when did your dreams start being normal?"

"Hmm…" Zexion considered the matter carefully. "It must have been… yes. It was the day that we met. I haven't had any of my usual dreams since then."

"Really?"

"Yes. It gives me hope that they may never return."

"It hasn't been that long," Demyx pointed out. "A week at most."

"True," Zexion admitted. "But this is the first time that I've had such a reprieve. Perhaps I shall be able to adopt a healthy sleep schedule."

"Don't count on it, Comp. Sci."

AN: Computer science majors can go days without sleep. I live with some. ^_^ As always, review to fill my determination tank!